Sinn Féin - On Your Side

947 children in Kerry awaiting Orthodontic treatment

According to figures obtained by Deputy Martin Ferris from the HSE there are
currently 947 children waiting for Orthodontic treatment in the Kerry area. Almost
half of these children will have to wait between 2 and four years before
getting treatment and another 77 will be forced to wait 4 to 5 years.

Commenting on these figures Deputy Ferris said:

“In June 2006 I was informed that the HSE was having difficulty
recruiting a second Consultant Orthodontist to service the Cork/Kerry area
and that this was the major factor in the long waiting periods for children
awaiting treatment in Kerry. Now, over 18 months later, a second consultant
position has not yet been filled.

“In February of last year, Cllr. Toiréasa Ferris was told by the HSE
that they intended to appoint an extra consultant led team and to use
initiatives such as the National Treatment Purchase Fund to clear the
serious backlog in Kerry’s waiting lists. Almost a year later and the
numbers waiting and the length of time on the waiting list have not seen any
reduction

“More worryingly the HSE are saying that they have only now commenced
the recruitment of a second Consultant Orthodontist. It is extremely
frustrating for parents and their children who are in need of treatment when
the HSE are stating on one hand that they are doing everything they can to
improve services but in reality little is being done to ensure the
scandalous waiting times in Kerry are reduced.” CRÍOCH